Generalitat de Catalunya

Departament d’Ensenyament
Institut Obert de Catalunya

USE OF ENGLISH

Part 1

Read the text and choose the correct answer for each item.

Text 1

End of a space-age era

The United States space shuttle programme has now been -1- to a close. For
thirty years, the space shuttles, part rocket, part plane, have travelled -2- into
space and supplied the International Space Station tirelessly and safely, apart
from two major disasters. The most recent of -3- happened in 2003 when a
small piece of foam insulation broke off the external shell of Columbia while it
was lifting off and it hit the outside of the spaceship. -4- floated away from the
shuttle, it wouldn't have been a problem, but because it damaged part of the
shuttle's heat shield, the orbiter burnt up as it re-entered the Earth's
atmosphere. No human could sustain the temperatures encountered on
re-entry without sufficient protection, so all seven astronauts on board were
killed. NASA engineers guessed this would happen but limited their
investigations during the shuttle's flight as they knew there was -5- they could
do to save the crew. As a result of this and the ensuing investigation,
construction of the International Space Station was put -6- hold until shuttle
flights resumed some two years later.
The Columbia disaster was the second to befall the shuttle programme -it
took place some 17 years after Challenger -7- on lift-off. This disaster
received more publicity than the second because a lay person was on board:
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Generalitat de Catalunya
Departament d’Ensenyament
Institut Obert de Catalunya

Christa McCauliffe was the first non-astronaut to take part -8- a shuttle flight,
so the nation's eyes were on the spacecraft as it lifted off, and millions
watched the disaster unfold.
-9- these two disasters, the space shuttle programme has been a success,
and these space-age workhorses can only pave the way better for – and
safer – transportation into space.

Adapted from: My GrammarLab, Advanced C1/2, Pearson

1. a) carried b) brought c) become d) caught

2. a) back and forth b) forth and back c) back to forth d) forth to back
3. a) that b) its c) it d) these
4. a) If had this b) Hadn't this
c) Were this d) Had this
5. a) a lot b) little c) few d) a few
6. a) on b) in c) at d) off
7. a) was broken up b) was breaking up c) had broken up d) would have broken up
8. a) in b) on c) to d) for
9. a) In spite b) Although c) However d) Despite

Text 2

More violent crime

Crime is -10- according to a worrying report issued this week by the

government's national statistics office.
Concerned citizens are likely -11- by the report's conclusions. Despite
promises that the government was tackling serious crime, the report indicates
a 6% -12- in serious offences over the last year. The largest increase has
been in assaults, especially those involving knives or other weapons. The
main factor in these crimes appears to be the growth of gangs in our inner
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Generalitat de Catalunya
Departament d’Ensenyament
Institut Obert de Catalunya

cities, and many of the crimes are drug-related. Burglaries and theft have also
increased, -13- by a smaller percentage. The published figures show a 3%
increment since last year. Government sources claim that the underlying
reason -14- this increase is the economic situation. An opposition spokesman
said there was nothing surprising in the figures. He pointed at social causes
and -15- the rise in crime on the present goverment's lack of investment in
education and training. The chair of the Police Officers' Association placed
responsibility for the situation on the shoulders of the Minister of Justice, -16-
has been asked to resign by the leader of the opposition. Reductions in police
numbers have been a principal factor in the growth of crime, he contends.
More than 38% of the victims identified in the report were retired people. It is
certainly true that there is a fear of crime amongst -17-, and lobbying groups
are calling for something radical to be done about the problem. They are
asking for maximum sentences -18- to those criminals that target retired or
disabled people. They feel the criminals involved should be punished more
severely than others.
Adapted from: My GrammarLab, Advanced C1/2, Pearson

10. a) on the rise b) in the rise c) being risen d) in the grow

11. a) be alarmed b) being alarmed c) to be alarming d) to be alarmed
12. a) grow b) arise c) rise d) growing
13. a) although b) since c) as d) even though
14. a) of b) for c) to d) on
15. a) faulted b) accused c) claimed d) blamed
16. a) to who b) to whom c) whose d) who
17. a) elderly b) the elderly c) the elderlies d) the elderly people
18. a) having been given b) being given c) be given d) to be given
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Generalitat de Catalunya
Departament d’Ensenyament
Institut Obert de Catalunya

Part 2

Choose the correct answer for each item.

19. Your _______ is now more coordinated and loves to show off new
physical skills.
a) five-year-old b) five-years-old c) five year old d) five-year

20. The doctor advised _______ antibiotics.

a) him take b) him taking c) him to take d) him to taking

21. I wish _______ shout. It gets on my nerves.

a) you hadn't b) you wouldn't c) you did d) had you

22. _______ you pay the extra fee, we guarantee a sea-view room.
a) Unless b) If not c) In case d) Provided

23. He is believed _______ the hero of our town.

a) to be b) being c) to having been d) to may be

24. Mia _______ yet; her bag is on the chair.

a) mustn't have left b) can't have been left
c) can't have left d) should have left
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Generalitat de Catalunya
Departament d’Ensenyament
Institut Obert de Catalunya

25. That new coat looks _______ expensive.

a) pretty b) absolutely c) completely d) totally

26. _______ there are not many women in powerful positions in commerce,
the number in politics is quite surprising.
a) So that b) Because of c) For fear that d) Given that

27. Our delegates _______ at the conference centre.

a) had rather not stay b) would rather not stay
c) had rather not to stay d) would rather not to stay

28. He will wait for you until you _______ back.

a) will be b) will have been
c) will be being d) are

29. I would like to point _______ that there is a piece missing in this model.
Hadn't you seen it?

a) at b) in c) out d) about

30. By July they _______ the house for a year.

a) will be building b) will have built
c) will have been building d) will build
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